Scuppered!

Sometimes you have to admit that things don't go quite as planned. I've lost count of the number of gigs that have been cancelled recently due one thing or another. The ash cloud that sat over Europe for a week scuppered a Spasm Band trip to Italy, and a further 2 shows in France had the plug pulled by the promoter. Chik Budo were also let down a few times by promoters or venues double-booking, and also we had to pull out one show as Aki broke his wrist!

So instead the last month or so has mainly been spent in the studio. The Spasm is in the process of writing our next album, and incorporating some new material in the live set. I've also been working on new Chik Budo material - there's some new tracks up on the myspace.

I'm also currently finalising the mixes of the trio recordings I did in march with Mark Holub and Toby McLaren. I've pulled a number of short trio and duo pieces from session that are being mixed by Alex Bonney, and should be unleashed on the world soon.

The unexpected lack of gigs has also meant I've had a chance to see some gigs here in London. Peter Brotzmann was at The Vortex with his band Hairy Bones - Massimo Pupillo (from Zu) on bass, Toshinori Kondo on trumet, and Paal Nilssen-Love on drums. Their set was one of the most intense and powerful I've ever seen from what is essentially an acoustic band. Peter Brotzmann was also inspiring to see (and hear) in the flesh. His demeanour, physicality, and presence are so strongly tied to the sounds he produces. I also liked seeing him shred about 4 reeds in 45 minutes, and each time he put on a new reed he'd file it down with a 4-inch flick-knife before he played it!
I also managed to catch a gig by Ken Vandermark at Cafe Oto. His rhythm section for the night was Paal Nilssen-Love and John Edwards - which has to be one of the strongest and inventive you'll find anywhere in Europe right now. Plenty to be inspired by.

Wart Biter @ Transient Constellations

Wart Biter are playing this excellent event at The Others in Stoke Newington, hosted by Transient Constellations. Wart Biter features Toby McLaren of Led Bib on synths, Tom Fugelsang of Gum Takes Tooth on drums, and Jussi Brightmore also of Gum Takes Tooth on synths, and machines. We'll be playing a fully improvised set, forging together elements of free improv, noise rock, and electro.

Mad March

After a couple of months of relative peace, things have suddenly picked up pace this month! Only a few gigs, but things have been hectic behind the scenes.

The month kicked off with a Wart Biter show at Jamboree, supporting Charles Hayward's Trio. The night was a great success, with an excellent audience in the cosy surroundings of Jamboree. The Wart Biter set harnessed elements of improv, electro, noise.. etc.. and crammed them into a breathless 25 minute set. I didn't manage to get a good recording of the set this time, however the band has been in the studio recording some improvisations that I'm hoping to mix, edit, and unleash on the world soon.

I've also been busy in the studio with Chik Budo, preparing new material. Some of the new material is starting to see the light of day which is excellent. We've also recently aquired a new keyboardist - Curtis Stansfield, who not only possesses the pre-requisite big-hair and amazing synth skills, but also a keytar! Writing and rehearsals still dominate the Budo schedule with a few gigs to look forward to in the near future as well.

The Spasm Band has also had a hectic month behind the scenes following the departure of the percussion section, and the consequent hiring of a new drummer and percussionist. The new line-up played our first show this weekend in Nice. With minimal rehearsals, and some kit parts still to be finalised tension was high before the gig - but The (new look) Spasm Band was successful.

This weekend I had an all day recording session at the excellent Shiftworks recording studio in North London. This was the first recording session of my trio with Mark Holub and Toby McLaren. We recorded a series of trio improvisations with tenor sax, drums, Fender Rhodes, and Juno synth, as well as some duos. It was possibly one of the hardest recording sessions I've ever done, and was truly exhausting. I'm waiting to get back some of the rough mixes and looking forward to hearing the results.

l-r: Mark Holub, Me, Toby McLaren @ Shiftworks Studio

Charles Hayward Trio + Wart Biter

I'm putting on this show at the Jamboree in March with Charles Hayward's Trio and my own Wart Biter:

Charles Hayward is a legendary drummer, known for his work with This Heat, Massacre, and Camberwell Now. He's joined by saxophonist Tomas Challenger (Ma, Red Snapper, Loop Collective, and bassist Nick Doyne-Ditmas. Their music can be described as ultra-telepathic shape bending acoustic improv, veering from the rootsy, to the abstract, to genuinely euphoric highs.

Wart Biter is Colin Webster on saxophone, Toby McLaren from Led Bib on synthesiser, and the double-headed beast of a rhythm section that is Gum Take's Tooth's Tom Fugelsang on drums - which trigger Jussi Brightmore's rig of synths and effects. Wart Biter combine expansive abstract sonorities, with abrasive improv and primal slabs of noise.

There Is No Time: Anthony Joseph and The Spasm Band

Check out this feature length film of life on the road with The Spasm Band. With international concert performances and backstage footage, it's truly something special that documents the first four years of The Spasm band since the first recording sessions in 2006.

There is no time : Anthony Joseph & The Spasm Band from anthony joseph on Vimeo.

Review of the year - 2009

2009 for me was dominated by the release of the 'Bird Head Son' album by Anthony Joseph and The Spasm Band. Endless touring all over Europe seeing lots of cities and festivals, especially France, playing almost all major towns and cities plus some obscure rural locations. Feeling nervous before playing live on French TV - 'Ce Soir Ou Jamais'. 3 days in La Reunion - swimming in the Indian Ocean. Dot to Dot Festival and Insomniacs Ball with Chik Budo. Late nights, motorways and fiddling with synths. Terrordactyl's first and only gig at Cafe Oto. Exciting new projects beginning to see the light of day - Wart Biter and Holub/McLaren/Webster. Seeing Sun Ra Arkestra, Seun Kuti, Egypt 80, and Archie Shepp live at in one amazing night at Jazz a Vienne. Sunny Murray at Vortex. Parliament/Funkadelic in Paris. New discoveries all the time...

Looking forward to a creative 2010. Less time spent on EasyJet, and more in the studio!

Wart Biter @ The George

Live recording of Wart Biter at The George courtesy of Illi Adato.

Wart Biter - Live Encore

This is the last track of the set.

Recorded 6th December 2009
Colin Webster: Tenor Sax
Toby McLaren: Synth
Tom Fugelsang: Drums
Illi Adato: Electronics